Finally, document found in folder cardinal sorted (8)
I believe the answer is:
filtered
'sorted' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are past participle verbs, I cannot understand how they can define each other.
'finally document found in folder cardinal' is the wordplay.
'finally' suggests the final letters.
'found in' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'folder' becomes 'file' (file folder is a kind of folder).
'cardinal' becomes 'red' (I've seen this in other clues**).
The last letter of 'document' is 't'.
't' placed inside 'file' is 'filte'.
'filte'+'red'='FILTERED'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for filtered that I've seen before include "Percolated or strained" , "Clarified" .)